Was a founder, in 1961, and past president of the Western History Association.
Obtained his higher education at Purdue (1951) and Indiana (1952) Universities.
Holds honorary doctoral degrees from Purdue (1972), Indiana (1983), and the University of New Mexico (1976).
Reared in Pennsylvania and Indiana.
During his college years he spent six summers (1947-52) as a "historical aide" for the National Park Service at Custer Battlefield National Monument which led to a career in the National Park Service.
Has two sons, Donald Warner, a lawyer, and Philip Lee, an astrophysicist.
Has written 22 books on the American West.
Played a major role in the development of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and then in its implementation.
Served in the National Park Service as Regional Historian of the Southwest Region in Santa Fe from 1957 to 1964, when he was summoned to Washington to serve as Chief Historian, 1964-80.
From 1977 until 1997 he served on the board of directors of Eastern National Park and Monument Association, twice as chairman.
In April 2015 I was inducted into the Western Writers of America Hall of Fame.